Loose leaf binder



May 12, 1942. w. H. CROWLEY 2,282,565

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Feb. l?, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR, z2 Cfva/f Y',

ATTORNEY.

w. H.` CROWLEY A v2,282,565

LoosE LEAF BINDER l Filed Feb. 17, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 2 ATTRNEY.

Patente-d May 12, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOOSE LEAF BINDERWilliam H. Crowley, West Springfield, Mass.v

Application February 17, 1941, Serial No. 379,208

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in loose leaf binders.

An object of this invention is to provide a loose leaf binding unitwhich will hold and grip securely one or more individual sheets, andwhich may be used in multiple in a suitable back or frame in such amanner that any one binding unit may be removed from the frame or backwithout disturbing the other binding units.

Another object of this invention is to provide a binding unit for looseleaves which will securely grip and hold the leaves or sheets withoutrequiring the leaves or sheets to be perforated or in any way preparedor formed for binding.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a binding unitwhich will securely hold and grip a plurality of sheets or leaves of thesame or different thicknesses, in such a manner that any one of thesheets may be removed or replaced without removing or disturbing theother sheets in the binding unit.

Still another object of this invention is to provide, in combination, aplurality of binding units and a back plate or frame in which the unitsmay be secured and locked in place, in such a manner that any one of theunits may be removed and replaced without disturbing other units in theback plate or frame.

In loose leaf binders now in common use, it is customary to provide aback plate o'r covers equipped with split rings, bolts, bars, posts, orclamps requiring spaced perforations in the sheets to be bound. Whenmade up into large catalogs or books, these constructions have manydisadvantages. If rings are used, the books tend to be bulky and heavy,as only about half the diameter of the ring may be used for holding thesheets. Crowding results in torn sheets, which tear out at the rings,and may easily be lost from the book. In the case of binders employingposts, bolts, or the like, it becomes increasingly di'icult, as thenumber of leaves in the book increases, to' remove or replace a singlesheet, as all the sheets on one side of the sheet to be removed must betaken off the posts to reach the required sheet. Furthermore, in the useof large catalogs or books, the sheets do not lay flat when the book isopen. It is an object of this invention to provide a loose leaf binderin which the leaves or sheets may be divided into convenient sections,and each section separately and individually bound without the use ofany registering devices in the binding units or sheets, and with thebinding units so supported in the binder as to permit the removal of asingle unit and its use, apart from the binder, if desired.

These, and other objects and'advantages of this invention, will beclearly and concisely detscribed and disclosed in the followingspecificaprovide gripping jaws for gripping one or more sheets of paperor the like, and a U-shaped spring clamping member slidably secured overthe plates and normally forcing the plates into gripping relation, abinder or frame for receiving and supporting a plurality of the bindingunits, and

means for releasably lockingthe binding units in the frame or binder.

A preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig.I 1 is a perspective View of one ofthe binding units,

Fig. 2 isa perspective view of the lower jaw i of the binding unit,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view oi the upper jaw of a binding unit,

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the spring clamp for the binding unit,

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View, at enlarged scale, taken on the line 55 'of Fig.' 1,

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig.' 5, showing the relation of parts whena large number of sheets are gripped in the binding unit,

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig'. 5, showing the clamp member removedand the unit open for receiving loose leaf sheets,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a back plate or binder for the bindingunits,

Fig. 9 is a View of the locking element or pin, Fig. 10 is a crosssectional vView illustrating the assembly of several binding units inthe binder,

Fig. 1l is a sectional view, at enlargedscale, taken on the line I I '-II of Fig.10,'and

Fig. 12 is a sectional view, taken on the line I2-I2 of FigLlO.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, in which like numeral'srefertoV like parts throughout,

A binding unit I4 is made up of three parts, a lower jaw I5, an upperjaw I6, and a .spring clamping member I'I. The lower jaw I5 is angularincross section, having a base I8,l back I9, and closed 'ends 20. The edgeof the base I8 opposite the back I9 is formed with a lip 2| which isground to provide a gripping edge. The

base I8 is also formed with a plurality of spaced, upwardly projectingspring leaves 22. The closed ends 20 of the member I5 are provided withoutwardly projecting trunnions 23 for pivotal support in a binder orback plate. The ends 20 are also perforated at 24 to receive trunnions25 on the upper jaw I6. The upper jaw I6 is also formed with a lip 26which is ground or sharpened to provide a gripping edge complementary tothe lip 2| on the jaw I5. The upper jaw I6 is formed with a downwardlyextending back wall 21.

When assembled, the upper jaw I6 is pivotally supported on the lower jawI by engagement of the trunnions 25 in the holes or perforations 24 and,thus assembled, the lip 26 of the upper jaw I6 overlaps the lip 2| ofthe lower jaw I5, when the jaws I5 and I6 are in normally closedrelation, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6. This overlapping relation ofthe lips 2| and 26 tends to distort or crimp a sheet or sheets locatedbetween them, when the jaws I5 and I6 are forced together, and thusprovides a rm, secure grip on the sheets to be held. The upper jaw I 6may be raised, as indicated in Fig. 7, to release, replace, or insertsheets between the jaws, as indicated at 28 by dash lines representingloose leaves or sheets. The back I9 serves as a stop for the edges ofthe sheets, as indicated in Fig. 1.

The jaws I5 and I6 are clamped in closed and gripping relation by meansof a U-shaped spring clamp I1 which is formed with its legs 29 and 30converging toward their free ends. In use, the jaws I5 and I6 are closedon the sheets 28 and the clamp I1 slid over the jaws from either end.The back wall 3| of the clamp I1 is provided with one or more slots 32,into which the edge of a coin orthe like may be inserted to assist insliding the clamp I1 on or 01T the jaws I5 and I6.

By means of the construction above described, a double grip is providedfor any practical number of loose leaf sheets, for example, from one tofifty sheets of customary catalog weight. When the clamp I1 is assembledon the jaws I5 and I6, the spring action of the legs` 29 and 3|] forcesthe lips 2| and 26 into engagement, and the back wall 21 of the upperjaw I6 into engagement with the spring leaves 22 of the lower jaw I5.Thus, a single sheet 28, or any practical multiple thereof, inserted inthe jaws I5 and I6 will be doubly gripped; rst, adjacent a side edge ofthe sheets by the wall 21 and spring leaves 22, and, second, on a linespaced from and parallel to the same side edge by the lips 2| and 26.The overlapping relation of the lips 2| and 26 tends to distort or crimpthe sheets, as best indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, thus insuring a definiteand positive lock for the sheets or loose leaves. As the number ofsheets held between the jaws I5 and I 6 is increased, the spring leaves22 of the lower jaw I5 deflect to accommodate them, and the spring legs29 and 36 of the clamp I1 spread to permit opening of the lips 2| and26, as will be readily understood by a comparison of Figs. 5 and 6.

In Figs. 9-12, inclusive. is illustrated a binder or frame forreceiving, supporting, and holding a plurality of the binding units I4.A plate or band 33 is formed at each end into hollow posts 34 and 35having outer walls 36, inner walls 31, substantially semi-cylindricalend walls 38, and closed ends 39. The inside wall 31 of the post 35 isprovided with spaced holes 40 for receiving trunnions 23 at one end ofthe units I4, and the inside Wall 31 of the post 34 is provided withslots 4I for receiving trunnions 23 at the opposite ends of the unitsI4. The slots 4| are aligned with the holes 40, and extend approximatelyhalf-way around the end wall 38, as shown in Fig. 8, whereby, when theslots 4I are free, the units may be easily inserted into the binder byengagement of the trunnions 23 in holes 40 and slots 4I, and as easilyremoved. A locking pin 42 is journalled in openings 43 formed in theends 39 of the post 34, and is secured in the post 34 by cooperation ofa head 44 formed on the pin 42 and a collar 45 forced over the lower endof the pin 42 after its assembly in the post 34. The pin 42 is cut awayat 46 to clear the ends of the trunnions 23 to permit their removal fromthe post 34. Thus, when the pin is in the position indicated in Fig. 12,the binding units may be easily removed from the frame 33, and when thepin 42 is in the position indicated in Fig. 11, it engages the trunnions23 on that end of the units I4 and securely locks the units in the posts34 and 35. With the pin 42 in releasing position, any one of the unitsI4 may be removed from the binder 33 without removing or disturbing anyof the other units.

The frame 33 may be installed in suitable covers, as indicated by dashlines at 41, 48, and 49 in Fig. 10, or the frame 33 may be usedindependently, without covers, as desired. When covers are used, theframe 33 may be secured therein by any suitable means, such as rivets50, and the cover 41 may be provided with an opening 5I registering withthe head 44 of the pin 42.

Having thus described a preferred form of my invention, what I claim is:

1. A binding unit for loose leaves or the like comprising a lower jawmember formed with end walls, an upper jaw member pivotally supported onthe end walls of said lower jaw member, said jaw members being formedwith longitudinal gripping lips at their front edges and extendingtoward each other, said jaw members being also provided with cooperatinggripping elements at their rear edges, and a U-shaped spring clampmember longitudinally slidable over said jaw members for forcing saidlips into gripping engagement on one or more loose leaves insertedbetween them.

2. A binding unit for loose leaves or the like comprising a lower jawmember angular in cross section and having end walls and an upturned lipat its front edge, an upper jaw member also angular in cross section andformed with a downwardly turned front edge, said upper jaw member beingpivotally supported on the end walls of said lower jaw member, grippingelements on said lower jaw member and cooperating with the rear wall ofsaid upper jaw member for gripping a leaf or leaves located betweenthem, and a spring clamp member longitudinally slidable and removableover an end of said jaw members for forcing said lips toward each other.

3. A loose leaf binding unit comprising a lower jaw member formed withan upwardly projecting rear wall and end walls, an upper jaw memberpivotally supported on the end walls of said lower jaw member and formedwith a downwardly projecting rear wall, the front edges of said jawmembers being formed with gripping lips with the lip of the upper jawmember overhanging the lip of the lower jaw member, gripping elements onsaid lower jaw adjacent its rear wall and cooperating with the rear wallof said upper jaw member, removable spring means engaging said jawmembers for forcing them into gripping relation.

4. A loose leaf binding unit comprising a lower jaw having an upwardlyextending rear wall, a lipped front edge, and end walls, an upper jawhaving a downwardly extending rear wall and a lipped front edge, saidupper jaw being pivotally supported on the end walls of said lower jawwith its lipped edge overhanging the lipped edge of the lower jaw, saidlower jaw being formed with an upwardly projecting spring leaf whichtends to engage the rear wall of said upper jaw, and a longitudinallyslidable U-shaped spring member removably secured over said jaws forforcing said jaws into gripping engagement, whereby a sheet or sheetslocated between said jaws will be doubly gripped, first, by cooperationof said spring leaf and the rear wall of said upper jaw, and second, bycooperation of the lipped front edges of said jaws.

5. A loose leaf binding unit comprising upper and lower jaws formed withcooperating gripping elements on their front edges, said jaws beingpivotally connected on a longitudinal axis, said lower jaw being formedwith a plurality of spaced spring leaves which extend upwardly andangularly into engagement with the rear edge of said upper jaw, alongitudinally slidable and CTI removable spring member, channel shapedin cross section, partially enclosing said jaws for forcing said jawsinto gripping relation, and trunnions projecting outwardly from the endsof one of said jaw members for pivotally supporting said binding unit ina binder frame or the like. f

6. A loose leaf binding unit comprising two jaws pivotally connected ona longitudinal axis, said jaws being formed with cooperating grippingelements at their front and rear edges,

means for forcing said jaws into gripping relation.

7. A binding unit for loose leaves or the like comprising a lower jawmember provided with end walls, an upper jaw member pivotally supportedon the end walls of the lower jaw member, cooperating elements on saidjaw members for gripping a sheet or leaf adjacent the rear edge of saidlower jaw member, and a spring clamp member slidably and removablysecured over said jaw members for forcing the front edges of said jawmembers toward each other, whereby a leaf or leaves will be gripped at.both front and rear edges of said jaw members.

WILLIAM H. CROWLEY.

